10 Things To Do–To Undo–While in Door County

By Marise Redman

We’ve all heard this…how technology is evolving to solve human problems, make life easier and create more time. But is your life easier and do you have more time? What about the culture of technology and its continued evolution towards…what?

Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired Magazine said, “technology is how we hack life.” We use it to make life better. Think of all the advancements made in medical technology alone! But just because surgeons have the technology to work on two clients at the same time, should they? It begs the question, i.e. if we lived a slower, simpler, more-balanced life, would there be so much disease?

According to American Academy of Neurology, a study on the effects of higher cortisol (the stress hormone) on the brain, has proven that cortisol does “lower brain volumes and impair memory in asymptomatic younger to middle-aged adults, with the association being evident particularly in women.” Which means our stressed brains are shrinking…

Amit Sood, MD, professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic said, “Although our brains have evolved over time, the speed of life today is the main stressor — it’s much faster than our brain’s ability to adapt.”

Do we wait for a wake-up call or do we do something about our culture of speed? Even though the word “wellness” is popping up in articles everywhere, is a yoga class, 15-minutes of meditation, and a protein smoothie going to be enough?

In the wise words of Winnie the Pooh, “Often nothing leads to the very best of something.” So consider really slowing down and perhaps engage in nothing. Being in Door County is the perfect chance to try it. Here are 10 things to do, to undo:

1. See a sunset

2. See a sunrise

3. Set out a blanket at night and watch falling stars and satellites

4. Get lost on the back roads

5. Drive the speed limit (or less).

6. Turn off your cell phone and computer for (at least) one day

7. While waiting in line, list all things you’re grateful for in life

8. Take the ferry to Washington Island

9. Take your shoes off and walk in the grass

10. Find one of the 53 public beaches and lie quietly for (at least) 15 minutes.